Park West Gallery has joined forces with artists Guy Harvey, Romero Britto and Andrew Bone to contribute to conservation efforts and the betterment of others.

A combined total of $115,000 has been donated to three non-profit organizations by the Park West Foundation: The Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation, Best Buddies International and Forever Wild Foundation.

Park West Gallery works with hundreds of artists, and is constantly reviewing artist submissions. Not only does the gallery seek out artists with exceptional talent, but it also examines and appreciates the contributions made by those artists to local, national and international communities.

To support these philanthropic efforts, the gallery’s non-profit organization, the Park West Foundation, is working with Harvey, Britto and Bone to support organizations that encourage conservation efforts on land and sea as well as bettering society by assisting those with disabilities.

Park West has donated $50,000 to the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation. Founded by Harvey, an artist and scientist, the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation works to support efforts that protect marine habitats and environments. In particular, the foundation focuses on large fish like sharks, billfish and tuna.

“Park West Gallery has done a tremendous job in supporting my artwork and is now furthering their commitment to our oceans by making a generous financial contribution to benefit the research and education work of the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation,” Harvey says.

Another $50,000 has been given to Best Buddies International, an organization dedicated to establishing a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-on-one friendships, integrated employment and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Neo-pop artist Britto has supported the organization since 1994, and Park West serves as a job ambassador with Best Buddies, hiring staff to work at Park West Gallery.

“Good will and kindness are contagious,” Britto says. “It’s wonderful to see the Park West Foundation giving generously to Best Buddies, an important organization that I have held dear to my heart for many years.”

The foundation is providing $15,000 to Bone’s Forever Wildlife Foundation, which is working with the Wildlife ACT Fund Cheetah Project. Bone, a wildlife artist and conservationist, says the project will protect South Africa’s cheetah population with monitoring and research techniques. Bone says cheetahs in South Africa are endangered due to a loss of habitat and diseases that have all but wiped out the population.

“What we need to do is get in there and collar four or five of these cheetah to start monitoring them, because we have absolutely no idea what their conditions are or where they are,” Bone says. “Park West is in a position to be able to donate, and I know it’s going to be a win-win.”

Founded in 2006, the Park West Foundation supports art education as well as providing resources to foster care youth. The foundation has supported a number of causes as well, including the THAW Fund, the Girl Scouts and Turnaround Arts with Autumn de Forest.